This playlist brings together several practitioners performing the first Shibashi set. Although they follow the same eighteen movements, each brings a different rhythm, range and character to the sequence. Watching these variations can help you remember the movements, practise between classes and discover an approach that feels natural to you.
One set, many interpretations (click here)
Shibashi is not a performance in which every practitioner must look the same. The eighteen movements provide a common structure, but differences in age, mobility, experience and teaching style naturally affect how they are performed. Some practitioners use wide, expansive movements; others are more contained. Some emphasise softness and continuity, while others make the changes of weight and direction more visible.
The videos below include Lin Housheng, who created the original Shibashi sequences, alongside other experienced practitioners. Watching several versions helps us see which parts are fundamental to each movement and which reflect personal interpretation.
It is difficult to learn all the subtleties of Tai Chi or Qigong from videos alone, but they can be very useful for recalling a sequence you have already encountered. You might follow one demonstration from beginning to end, compare the same movement across several videos, or simply allow a video to accompany your own practice.
There is no need to copy anyone precisely. Use the demonstrations as guides, keep within a comfortable range of movement, and gradually find your own unforced, flowing version of the set.